Today I invite you to come with me, back in time to this iconic decade. By doing so, I can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for a much simpler time when life moved along at a slower pace.
As our virtual time capsule drops us into the 1980’s, one of the first things that strikes me about this decade is the fashion. Shoulder pads, leg warmers, ra-ra skirts and acid-washed jeans are once more all the rage. People aren't afraid to take fashion risks; bold, bright colors seem to be everywhere. As we walk down our 80’s street, we see people sporting mullet hairstyles and oversized denim jackets. I can't help but smile at the sheer audacity of it all.
As we continue to explore this decade, I am once again struck and delighted by the music. The 1980’s were a golden age for music, with iconic bands like Duran Duran, Madonna, Human League and Michael Jackson dominating the charts. I can hear the sound of synths and electronic drum machines with the uptempo sound of Bucks Fizz, Dollar and OMD filling the air. I once again sense the energy and excitement of a generation that was coming of age.
But it's not just the out-there fashion and the great music that made the 1980s so special; it's also the camaraderie and sense of community. People seemed more engaged with one another. We weren't glued to our mobile phones or lost in a world of social media. Instead, we were out in the streets, talking to each other, sharing experiences and making the best memories.
In our virtual re-visitation to the 1980’s, let's pop into a local arcade. We see groups of kids huddled around the video game machines, cheering each other on and trying to beat each other's high scores. Space Invaders, Defender, Galaxian. PacMan and Asteroid games glow and chirp from an array of free-standing consoles placed in every available corner.
On our way out of the arcade, we cheekily peek through windows and watch families gathered around flickering cathode ray TV screens watching their favorite sitcoms, soap operas or movies, laughing and joking together. Remember the commotion of “Who shot J.R. Ewing?”. Further along our 80’s street, there are even people dancing in the streets, their bodies swaying to the infectious beat of huge stereo boomboxes.
As we immerse ourselves back in the world of the 1980’s, I can't help but feel the sense of innocence and optimism that seems to be lacking in today's world. Even though the 1980’s were a time of great change and upheaval, there was also a sense of hope and possibility that permeated and transcended everything. People believed in a better future, in progress and innovation. They were willing to make sacrifices to make things happen. The 80’s weren't stuck in the doldrums, we all wanted a decent future.
Of course, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows in the 1980’s. There were dark moments, too. The AIDS crisis, the Challenger disaster and the Iran-Contra affair to name but a few. As we continue to lap up this decade, we might be reminded of the struggles and challenges that people faced as well as the resilience and strength that they showed in the face of adversity.
And yet, despite everything, the 1980’s remains a time of great cultural and technological innovation. Let's pop into a record store and marvel at the selection of vinyl records and cassette tapes. We can appreciate the artistry and craft that went into creating the music of this era. The products of the music industry were real. It was a tangible product you could touch and smell and see. Even the album cover art was iconic and remains so to this day. The sound of great rock ballads like Foreigner’s ‘Waiting for a Girl like You’ and Rio Speedwagon’s ‘Keep on Loving You’ fill the dimly lit aisles of the store and their enduring magnificence can still make the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. I can't listen to Mike & the Mechanics ‘Living Years’ without welling up to this day, because of the poignancy of the message so beautifully delivered in this masterclass of the rock ballad art-form.
Meanwhile, at the bookshop next door, we see rows upon rows of paperback novels and magazines. There is a magical, rich and evocative scent that fills the room. The printed word still holds sway over the minds and hearts of millions of readers to this day but during the 1980’s, we didn't have any formats to read it other than a tangible, real and wonderful book. There's something inherently wonderful about a book; it's a forever thing and it's yours to cherish.
I visit a computer store and see the latest in cutting-edge technology, the first personal computers, early iterations of the internet, the birth of the video game industry and films on VHS. I am awestruck by the speed and scope of innovation in this decade, by the sheer audacity of the people who dared to dream big and push the boundaries of what was possible. It all seems so primitive now but the main difference is that none of us took any of it for granted. It was all new, it was exciting and it all felt so remarkably special.
As we continue through our 80’s city streets, I can't help but be impressed by the architecture and design of this decade. The buildings are bold and futuristic with sleek lines and shiny surfaces. The cars are also sleek; some are boxy whilst others are more aerodynamic. Newfangled EFi (Electronic Fuel-injected) engines purr away as beautiful cars like Ford Granadas and Vauxhall Senators glide down the road. Art and fashion are also avant-garde and boundary-pushing, with artists and designers using new materials and techniques to produce cutting-edge creations.
But it's not just the external trappings of the 1980’s that make this decade so special. It's the people. It's the sense of community and camaraderie that we feel everywhere we go. We see people working together, laughing together and supporting each other through thick and thin. I see a generation that's willing to take risks, to dream big and to embark on creating a better future for us all.
As we prepare to leave the 1980s behind and return to the present day, I feel a sense of loss and longing for this simpler, more innocent time and for the wonderful folk I must leave behind.
The world may have changed, technology may have advanced but there is something timeless and enduring about the spirit of the 1980s. It was a decade of boldness and audacity, of creativity and innovation, of hope and possibility.
I, for one, am so immensely grateful to have had the chance to experience it once more; if only for a fleeting moment to share with you. I don't mind confessing how I miss those happy halcyon days. By coming with me on this little recce, I rather suspect you might see why this is the case.
Portugal in the 1980s was a "wild west" country where the poltical eathquake of the 1974 revolution caused great social changes. Not least of these was the rapid rise of home-grown rock and new wave popular music lede by Rui Veloso and groups such as GNR, Xutos and Pontapés and Herois do Mar. Madredeus and a very young Herman José singing "A cancão do beijinho".
On the debit side street crime was rife, corruption rampant and poverty accepted as the norm for the general population.
Roberto Cavaleiro 16-10-25
By Cavaleiro R. from Other on 16 Oct 2025, 10:31